Can I quit the job before VISA interview?

[goku_supersayan]

Hello Guys,

 

I am heading to UIUC Computer Science for Fall 2014. I need a F1 student VISA for the same. 

I am currently in a job and have served 5.5 years as of now .... My company has a 3 months notice period time but they are ready to leave me in 1 month .... in Mid April.

 

Here are the options that I have.

 

1) Leave the Company in mid April and then fill out the F1 VISA with an unemployed status? Some of my friends in top tier universities like CMU and UIUC have already done like 'leaving the job before VISA interview' but they got the VISA easily. The only problem in this case will be that VISA officer can ask me that "How come you knew in advance that you will certainly get the VISA before hand and you left your job?' but chances of asking this question is very less as I am going to a Rank 5 program which is very reputed.

 

2) I should stay in the company till April end and fill the VISA from with a status of employed. Once the VISA form is filled and the Visa date is booked, leave the company in April end .... Give the VISA interview in the May.

 

3) Leave the company after getting VISA. The option will make me stay in the company for another 1 month at a minimum which I don't want.

 

Please have your views. Its kind of urgent:)

[goku_supersayan]

Please reply guys, Thanks

[cbttcher]

Well, it seems like you don't really want to work there anymore either way. You could always say that you didn't like your job anymore and left it because of that and not because you were so sure to get the Visa... If they even ask about your job that is...

Edited April 9, 2014 by cbttcher

[TakeruK]

I did not have to do a visa interview, but I am not sure why your current job in your home country is important. The reputation of your grad school does not affect your visa interview--interviewers are instructed to not consider what kind of program you are going to as long as it is an accredited University. 

 

In a visa interview, they are looking to make sure you keep strong ties with your home country and that you are genuinely looking to go to the US to get a degree and then come back home. Of course, if you happen to get a US job offer later and stay/return to the US on a different visa, that is fine. But the intention of the F-1 program is for a temporary stay to go to school, so the interview will be to determine whether or not you will actually do that. I think it's fine to leave your job now if you don't want to keep it any longer--after all, you can have no job at all and still get a visa.

[VioletAyame]

I agree with TakeruK. I had 3 visa interviews - the initial one when I was 18 applying for go for college and 2 other ones after that to renew my F1. They all went super smoothly; they didn't even ask for anything else beside my academic record. Per my understanding, when going in to an F1 visa interview, you have to prove that:

 

1. You are able to and serious about pursuing education in the US. This can be proven by your transcripts, test scores, acceptance letter from your school, recommendation letter, etc.

2. You have the financial resources to pay your fee & tuition as well as to support yourself for at least one year. Bank statements are usually used to prove this, or if you're funded, I imagine the school can issue  you a letter with details about your funding package.

3. You have ties with your home country and intend to go back after the duration of your study. So it may be anything from certificates of house/land ownership, businesses, family members, bascially anything that you won't just leave in order to stay in the US.

 

So I don't think whether or not you still have a job will factor into the interview's result at all. I mean, most traditional students would not be working yet when applying for schools (college or grad schools) I imagine. Good luck at the interview and just relax, it'll be alright!

[goku_supersayan]

thanks VioletAyame

[goku_supersayan]

Any other views?  I have decided on option 1 that is "Leave the Company in mid April and then fill out the F1 VISA with an unemployed status'. Will this be a safe decision.